Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Source: goodreads.com

    Title: The Selection 

    Author: Kiera Cass 

    Release Date: April 24, 2012

    Source: Public library (thank God!) 

    Rating: 2/5 dresses

I hate to have one of the first reviews I write be so dreadful, but it must be done. I feel that, as a new book blogger, it is now my duty to warn people away from the pretty cover and let them know exactly what's INSIDE that precious blue hardback. Do not allow yourself to be influenced by the gorgeous dress, or the stunning pile of red hair. READING THIS BOOK IS NOT WORTH IT!

Why are you being so cruel? you might ask. What did this book do to you? I'll tell you exactly what this book did. It wasted my time. It turned my brain to mush. But it also entertained me in a way I didn't think would be possible (and also that I'm ashamed of) based on the premise of the book. I really didn't think I would find this book so sickeningly funny.

America Singer (can you guess what she does for her money?) is living in a "dystopian" world called Illea, which is what the combination of the United States and China is called after a massive war. I know, I was a little stupefied by that too. Anyways, America is living in a world of castes, or rankings, and she ranks just three castes higher than the lowest caste, Eight. She's in a forbidden romance with a douchebag, Aspen, who forces her to enter this competition called The Selection. Basically, it's like the Bachelor for royals. So America, poor America, enters and is picked to compete to be Illea's next queen. Surprise!

Except not really. Because every plot twist is expected. The dialogue is so completely fake, and sounds nothing like the way teenagers would speak in any world. The only people mentioned are beautiful with stupid names. Tuesday, Tiny, Maxon, Aspen. It's ridiculous! There were just so many things WRONG with this book, it's difficult to sort out what was RIGHT!

I suppose there was some character building in Maxon's character. Ever so slightly, though. And we got to know America's maids better, I guess. But there really wasn't any sense of hardship, even though there was supposed to be because the book is DYSTOPIAN, after all. America's family is supposedly poor, but they sit around their television eating popcorn after a large meal of chicken with lemon and iced tea. Except everyone only gets one glass of iced tea, because it's hard to come by, even though America sets out a pitcher of the stuff.

If, for some reason, you still feel inclined to read this book, check it out from your library, like I thankfully did. I actually begged Meg to go splits with me so we could buy and read the book, but she refused, because she hates books about royals. So, thanks Meg! I owe you one.

And you, our loyal readers, owe us one for saving you the time, money, and effort it takes to read this book. 

You're Welcome.

-Liz 

Review: In Honor by Jessi Kirby

Source: goodreads.com

Title/Author: In Honor- Jessi Kirby

Release Date: May 8, 2012

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Source: Public library

Rating: 3/5 cowboy boots



I am a lover of cowboy boots. In fact, I own a pair that I wear year round, no matter the weather or the looks I get from those crazy women in stilettos. Maybe that's part of the reason I was drawn to this book. The cover, with the red velvet-looking cowboy boots just pulled me in like a fly to honey. The synopsis was pretty intriguing too (from the publisher):

Three days after learning of her brother Finn's death, Honor receives his last letter from Iraq. Devastated, she interprets his note as a final request and spontaneously sets off to California to fulfill it. At the last minute she's joined by Rusty, Finn's former best friend.

Rusty is the last person Honor wants to be with- he's cocky and obnoxious, just like Honor remembers, and she hasn't forgiven him for turning his back on Finn when Finn enlisted. But their road trip ends up revealing more than the desert landscape. While they cover the dusty miles in Finn's beloved 1967 Chevy Impala, long-held resentments begin to fade, and Honor and Rusty struggle to come to terms with the loss they share.

As their memories of Finn merge to create a new portrait, Honor's eyes are opened to a side of her brother she never knew- a side that shows her the true meaning of love and sacrifice.

 So let me just say this: the book lives up to it's premise. Maybe I live under a rock or something, but I haven't seen a lot of young adult books written about the present day war in Afghanistan. I enjoyed that aspect of it. And I certainly didn't hate this book at all. I liked it. But it was just okay. I wouldn't run out and wave it all my friends' faces screaming "YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK NOW!" (not that I've ever done THAT before).

Rusty and Honor were great characters. They really developed, and you could see the kind of people they are now compared to the people they were. A lot of character revealation took place through stories, like Finn, for example. Finn was killed in the war (obviously. No spoiler alert there), but you still felt like you knew him when you closed the book. That takes a talent, and I can certainly appreciate what she did.

But the book was also very slow. It moved like a river, taking it's time, until suddenly, a big hurricane whipped up and it didn't stop until the very end, when it once again abruptly jolted to a leisurely end. I would've liked it to be smoother, where I could sense that something big was coming up, instead of just having it slammed on me. That's a killer for me, and I need to feel the motion of the story to be intrigued.

Again, I definitely LIKED the story. I didn't shut it halfway through, which I'm not shy about doing. And even though there was a sad atmosphere to it, there was certainly one funny bit that stands out in my mind:

"That," I said, grabbing for my beer, "was horrible." I took a good, long gulp that washed away the last of the burn and gave me a new appreciation for beer, then I set the half-empty bottle on the table and shook my head at Rusty. "Ugh. No tequila. Ever again."

"YOU SHOULD TRY SOME MORE TEQUILA!" I yell across the table to Rusty. "IT'LL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!" (pg. 176-177, In Honor)

Be sure pick this novel up at your local library, or read the first little bit in a bookstore to get a feel for what it's going to be about. Maybe look for some other Jessi Kirby books too- I believe she has one out called MOONGLASS. She's clearly a good author, it's just that this book didn't QUITE do her the justice I'm sure she deserves!

Happy Reading!
Elizabeth